court packing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Political / Academic
Quick answer
What does “court packing” mean?
The practice of increasing the number of judges on a court, especially the U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of increasing the number of judges on a court, especially the U.S. Supreme Court, to change its ideological balance.
Historically refers to the political strategy of expanding the membership of a judicial body to appoint new members who will rule in a desired manner. The term is specifically associated with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1937 plan to add more justices to the Supreme Court, but can be applied to similar actions on other courts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost entirely an American political concept. In British English, it is a loan term used only when discussing US politics. There is no direct equivalent in the UK system, though discussions of reforming the UK Supreme Court might use the borrowed term.
Connotations
In American English: Highly politicized, contentious, historically loaded. In British English: A descriptive term for a specific American political strategy.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English. Moderate frequency in American English during periods of political debate about the judiciary.
Grammar
How to Use “court packing” in a Sentence
[Subject - often a political actor] + [verb: propose/attempt/oppose] + court-packingThe + [adjective] + court-packing + [noun: plan/scheme/bill]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “court packing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The opposition accused the government of attempting to **pack the court** with loyalists, a move compared to American court-packing.
American English
- Some progressives have urged the President to **pack the Supreme Court** if the balance tips too far.
adjective
British English
- The article analysed the failed **court-packing plan** of 1937.
American English
- The senator introduced a **court-packing bill** that was quickly denounced by the minority party.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in political science, law, and history to describe a specific political/judicial strategy.
Everyday
Rare, except in political discussions among informed citizens.
Technical
Used in legal and political commentary to describe altering the composition of a court for ideological ends.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “court packing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “court packing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “court packing”
- Using it as a verb without the hyphen (e.g., 'to court pack'). The standard form is the noun 'court-packing' or the phrasal verb 'to pack the court'.
- Applying it to any judicial appointment, rather than specifically to increasing the *number* of seats to make new appointments.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from 1937 when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a bill to add up to six new justices to the Supreme Court, which was seen as 'packing' the court with justices sympathetic to his New Deal policies.
The legality is complex. In the U.S., the Constitution does not set the number of Supreme Court justices, so Congress could legally change it. The controversy is normative—about norms, traditions, and the perceived independence of the judiciary—not strictly legality.
Yes, while most famously associated with the Supreme Court, the term can be applied to strategies of expanding the number of judges on any court (e.g., a federal appeals court) for political purposes.
Normal appointments replace judges who have died or retired, maintaining a stable court size. 'Court-packing' specifically involves *increasing* the total number of judgeships to create new vacancies to be filled, thereby altering the court's ideological balance.
The practice of increasing the number of judges on a court, especially the U.
Court packing is usually formal / political / academic in register.
Court packing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːt ˌpækɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔrt ˌpækɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pack the court”
- “A packed court”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sports team (a court) where one side secretly adds extra players (packing them in) to guarantee they win the game. This is 'court-packing' - unfairly stacking the judicial 'team'.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A GAME / THE JUDICIARY IS A TEAM. 'Packing' implies filling something (the court) with a chosen type (ideologically aligned judges) to achieve a desired outcome, similar to packing a jury or packing a suitcase with specific items.
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'court-packing' most specifically and historically rooted?